LISBON, PORTO, THE DOURO VALLEY, OVIEDO, LA RIOJA, SAN SEBASTIÁN
Delight in the delicious flavors of Portuguese and Spanish cuisine on this 13-day journey from Lisbon to San Sebastián. Enjoy varied regional cuisines and famous wine regions on a culinary journey where we’ll learn to make Portuguese “pastéis de bacalhau”; enjoy Bairrada Leitão, a roast suckling pig; explore the extraordinary world of chocolate and cacao; take in delicious tapas; stop at wineries and learn more about Spanish apple cider! We’ll take in more than just culinary masterpieces as we visit historic cities and take in scenic landscapes and coastlines. Along the way, we’ll also explore Belém, Lisbon’s riverside district, take in beautiful Porto, enjoy a scenic train ride along the Douro River, see the awe-inspiring Spanish Gothic architecture of Burgos’ cathedral, and more! Our journey comes to an end in San Sebastián, home to one of the highest number of Michelin star restaurants per square foot (including three restaurants with three Michelin stars!), some of the best food markets, and to the delicious Basque-style tapas called pintxos!
Did you know you can make this tour private? Find out about pricing and options
for groups of 15 or more travelers.
Itinerary at
a Glance
Tour Itinerary:
- 3 nights in Lisbon
- 2 nights in Porto
- 1 night in Douro Valley
- 1 night in Oviedo
- 2 nights in La Rioja
- 2 nights in San Sebastián
Tour Highlights
- Lisbon City Tour & Belém Riverside District
- Pastéis de bacalhau Cooking Class
- Roast suckling pig lunch at underground wine museum
- Porto Walking Tour
- WOW Chocolate Experience
- Douro River Cruise
- Scenic Douro Valley Train Ride
- Tapas in León, Spain
- Burgos Walking Tour
- Wine Culture Museum with lunch & wine tasting
- Bilbao Walking Tour
- San Sebastián City Tour
- Apple Cider Experience
Your Tour Includes
- Optional round-trip airfare from the New York area (varies by departure) including taxes, fees & fuel surcharges
- Accommodations at first-class hotels
- 16 meals: 11 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners plus 4 additional tastings
- Comprehensive sightseeing tours including admission fees as indicated in the itinerary
- Professional English-speaking Tour Director throughout
- Ground transportation in air-conditioned motor coach
Max Group Size: 20 travelers
Activity Level: Intermediate
Expect most included touring to require walking and standing periods up to 4 hours at a time (up to 2 times per day). Included touring may feature light hiking, and/or stairs on some hilly and/or uneven terrain. Learn More
Pacing Level: Moderate
Expect full-day tours most days with some limited free time at specific sites, for meals, and/or in the evenings. You can expect several early mornings and/or long travel days by bus (don’t worry—there are always comfort stops!), and you may expect to stay in most accommodations for 2+ nights (with limited 1-night stays). Learn More
No Additional Entry Requirements for U.S. Passport Holders
A valid passport is required for international tours. Currently, there are no additional entry requirements for U.S. passport holders, but this can change at any time. Before travel, both U.S. and non-U.S. passport holders should visit our Passports & Visas page to reconfirm entry requirements.
For more detailed information about this tour and destination, visit
our Before You Depart section.
Passengers who purchase flights will depart 1 day before the tour starts and return on the same day as the tour ends.
For flight details, see Before You Depart.
Welcome to Portugal! Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will enjoy a panoramic tour of Lisbon on way to our hotel. Tonight, we'll gather for a welcome dinner.
Accommodations: Lumen Hotel & Lisbon Light Show or similar
Meals: Dinner
Today we dive into Belém, Lisbon's riverside district. We'll see the 16th-century Monastery of Jeronimos, a prime example of Manueline-style (Portuguese late Gothic) architecture. We'll check out the iconic Belém Tower where soldiers once watched the Tagus River for incoming invaders. Next, we'll pass the Monument to the Discoveries, which honors Portugal's navigators who explored trade opportunities with Asia. We'll visit Ajuda National Palace, a former Royal residence that continues to be a glamourous backdrop to the ceremonies of the Presidency. We'll end our day with a cooking lesson in a Lisbon restaurant where we'll have the chance to make typical Portuguese “pastéis de bacalhau”. We'll enjoy our lesson with a glass of Portuguese wine and afterward, the balance of your day is at leisure.
Meals: Breakfast
Today is yours to explore intriguing Lisbon independently. Consider a full-day excursion to Sintra with lunch at a local restaurant (see optional tours).
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast this morning, we head north! We'll stop in Sangalos for a special experience at the Alianca winery with an exclusive underground museum. Here we'll enjoy Portugal's famous Bairrada Leitão, a roast suckling pig, that serves as one of the 7 Gastronomic Wonders of Portugal! After our visit, we'll continue to Porto with the evening at leisure.
Accommodations: Porto Palácio Hotel & Spa or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today's guided tour starts on foot as we explore the well-preserved historical center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We'll walk along the beautiful Avenida dos Aliados, an impressive boulevard in the heart of Porto. We'll see ornate, architecturally diverse buildings including Porto Cathedral, one of the city's oldest. We'll enjoy a 50-minute boat trip on the Douro River, navigating through the riverbanks of Porto and Vila Nova de Gaia. Next, we'll participate in a workshop at WOW Porto where we'll embark on a journey around the extraordinary world of chocolate and cacao. During our visit, we'll learn more about where cacao comes from and how chocolate is made. The rest of the day is free to explore independently.
Meals: Breakfast
After breakfast today, we'll board the MiraDouro Train to Pinhão, a train formed by a diesel locomotive and Schindler tourist cars that were produced in the 1940s and then recently restored. We can open the train's panoramic windows during our scenic train ride along the banks of the Douro River. We'll disembark at Pinhão's charming railway station, renowned for the beauty of its azulejos or tiled panels. Here, we'll enjoy a visit to a traditional farm and winery where we'll have a delicious dinner before we continue to our hotel by coach.
Accommodations: Vila Galé Collection Douro Hotel or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Today we say "adeus" to Portugal as we cross into Spain. We'll discover León, which was the capital city of the Kingdom of León during the Middle Ages, and a historic enclave on the Pilgrim's Road to Santiago de Compostela. During our visit, we'll explore the city's old town, named the Barrio Húmedo or the "wet district" because it has the city's biggest concentration of bars, pubs, and taverns. It's also where we'll find the city's best tapas bars and serves as the perfect place to go bar hopping and sample as we go! Afterward, we'll continue to Oviedo, the capital of Asturias in the north-west region of Spain.
Accommodations: NH Oviedo Principado or similar
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Today we visit Burgos, a city still full of medieval splendor. Once the capital of the unified kingdom of Castilla-León for five centuries, Burgos is home to a masterpiece of Spanish Gothic architecture - the Cathedral of Burgos, a World Heritage site. We'll take a guided walk through the historic quarter and learn about the varied cuisine.
Accommodations: NH Logroño Herencia Rioja or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Today we continue our journey into the world of wine with a visit to the Wine Culture Museum located in a La Rioja vineyard. At the museum, we'll learn more about the history of wine with an explanation of its production methods and cultural significance. We'll also enjoy a modern lunch paired with local wines.
Accommodations: ,
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
After breakfast, we'll depart for Bilbao, a unique city where you can find the avant-garde in every corner including its old town. We'll walk Bilbao's streets filled with charming shops and flea markets. Our walking tour takes us to the Artxanda funicular which we'll ride up Artxanda Mountain, offering an incredible panoramic view of Bilbao. Afterward, we'll continue to San Sebastián, a city along a white sandy bay between the Urgall and Igueldo hills. This afternoon, consider joining an optional tapas lunch.
Accommodations: Barceló Costa Vasca or similar
Meals: Breakfast
Today we'll take a city tour of San Sebastián, an attractive city filled with fisherman's port houses and modern districts. Next, we'll visit a local apple tree orchard that makes apple cider - a drink first made in the north of Spain. The story goes that the land in northern Spain was unsuitable for growing grapes so apples were used to ferment the drink which later earned the title of Cider of the Basque Country. At the cider farm, we'll learn more about the process and cellars; and then we'll have a magnificent, traditional Basque farewell lunch as a group.
Accommodations: ,
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive package will transfer to the airport for our flight back to the U.S. and return home full of wonderful memories of Portugal & Spain.
Meals: Breakfast
Book by Jun. 2, 2023 to get the best price.
Prices listed as “with flights” below include
round-trip airfare from one or more airports
in the USA.
Travelers may choose to purchase the tour only,
and arrange their own arrival in destination.
Please note this may change your tour start date.
* Departures designated as "Guaranteed" may be canceled or rescheduled only
under Extraordinary Circumstances, for example in situations deemed to be unsafe
or nonviable due to local conditions. See Terms
& Conditions for full details.
Rates are per person based on double occupancy.
Single supplement applies when not sharing a room. Select a
date above to see the rates for that specific departure.
For more information on this tour, please
contact us here
or call us during business hours (Monday-Friday from 9:00 am - 7:00 pm Eastern)
at 1.800.337.7773.
Reservations and Payments
Reservations can be made online or by phone
(1.800.337.7773)
and will be confirmed upon receipt of your non-refundable,
non-transferable deposit, which must be received at the
time of reservation.
Deposits are $300 per person.
Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure.
Space and prices subject to availability.
Please see the
smarTours Terms and Conditions for complete
booking information.
Optional Tours
Customize your trip with these optional tours.
Enhance your trip with our recommended optional tours.
Indicated optional tours are available to pre-book
when you reserve your trip and can be added to your
reservation up to final payment. This is the best option
to guarantee your spot on your preferred optional tour!
Optional tours require a minimum number of participants.
Optional tours are non-refundable unless they do not operate.
Some optional tours can be purchased in-destination and
may cost extra. The payment methods and currency
information to purchase tours in-destination will be
provided on final documentation.
Venture to the municipality of Sintra where we'll discover a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the Seven Wonders of Portugal - Pena Palace. With its hilltop vantage point and eclectic architectural styles, this visit is sure to take our breath away. Plus we'll enjoy a delicious lunch at a local restaurant.
Note: Pena Palace entrance is subject to availability. If not available, entrance to Sintra's Royal Palace will be substituted.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Pintxos are the Basque version of Spanish tapas, miniature bar snacks that come with a variety of tastes and ingredients. On this optional tour, we'll visit some of the best bars in the old town of Bilbao and enjoy lunch. We'll be accompanied by a culinary guide who will recommend the pintxos specialty of each bar we stop at and share with us the town's food and cultural hotspots.
AVAILABLE TO PRE-BOOK!
Featured Accommodations
R. Sousa Martins nº 20, 1050-217 Lisboa, Portugal
Website
With elegantly furnished rooms, everything at Porto Palácio Hotel & Spa is meticulously tempered with comfort so that every stay is unique.
Av. da Boavista 12694100-130 Porto, Portugal
Website
Lugar dos Varais - Cambres, 5100-426 Lamego, Portugal
Website
C. San Francisco, 6, 33003 Oviedo, Asturias, Spain
Website
C. Marqués de Murrieta, 14, 26005 Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
Website
Pío Baroja Pasealekua, 15, 20008 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
Website
Monserrat H
I enjoyed this tour very much. It wasn’t very strenuous walking around and there ample time to explore the areas independently. The overnight stop in Oviedo seemed unnecessary since we didn’t see the city but left immediately for Burgos and added hours driving in the bus. It didn't’ seem logical to go North then drive back South immediately. Oviedo is a beautiful city and would have loved to spend time exploring the sights. The local pintxos in Leon were too exotic for many of the passengers but the wine and beer were good. The second Tapas bar served great food. I joined the optional tour in Bilbao and enjoyed that a lot. It would have been nice to explore a museum there other than just a walking tour of the city. San Sebastián was a beautiful place and glad we stayed two days to take it in.
The local tour guides need to understand that the group is composed of senior people and they need to match our pace rather their own pace. We’ve had to ask the guides to be more considerate. The whispers didn’t work too well and we couldn’t hear them too well.
Ed R
Overall the tour was great, the tour group all got along and we were all very social. Most of the selections were well thought out but there was one day we spent a lot of time on the bus. If Oviedo was eliminated and an extra day added in San Sebastian that might alleviate this issue.
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